Do you suffer from a recurring problem with your digestive system? Are you concerned about having to wait a long time for a diagnosis?
An endoscopy is a type of diagnostic test. It enables medical specialists to see the internal organs of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract using a flexible tube with a video camera.
It can be beneficial for your health because it can detect many common conditions, including bowel cancer.
What you may not have known is that you can arrange for a private endoscopy procedure. At this point, people often ask, how can I book a private endoscopy appointment?
This post will explain the process. We’ll also tell you what to expect from your appointments and list the main benefits of going private.
Do I need a GP referral for private endoscopy?
If you decide to go private with your endoscopy, you don’t necessarily need a GP referral.
Normally, though, it’s useful for your GP to refer you. This is because they should have a good knowledge of your medical history. They can also guide you about whether a specialist assessment is necessary.
Many private medical insurance policies also need you to have a GP referral. Check with your insurer to see if this applies to you.
Benefits of going private
Having a private endoscopy is the quickest way to diagnose many common digestive problems.
It means you can secure an appointment at a convenient time and without joining a long waiting list.
You’ll get a dedicated consultation with one of our highly experienced consultants.
It also means you can start treatment sooner, even if you want a referral back into the NHS for this.
Early detection is essential to improve your outcome. Many digestive conditions (and not just cancer) can become much more serious if left untreated for too long.
What to expect
An endoscopy service can help diagnose your condition using minimally invasive techniques. Sometimes we use it to carry out minor surgical treatments too.
All patients will receive information before the procedure. This contains details such as whether to end any medications, and how many hours before the appointment to stop eating.
Doctors examine the inside of your digestive system using an endoscope. This is a thin flexible tube containing fibre-optic wires with a light and a small camera on the end. It usually only takes a few minutes plus a short time beforehand to get ready.
We use this procedure to investigate symptoms or rule out certain GI diseases.
What do we use it for?
When looking inside the oesophagus (food pipe), stomach or duodenum (part of the small intestine), we call this a gastroscopy. It’s sometimes also called an upper GI endoscopy. Here we would check for issues such as:
- Signs of lesions or abnormal tissue growth caused by Barrett’s oesophagus
- Narrowing of the oesophagus that leads to difficulty swallowing
- Evidence of peptic ulcers
When we use the endoscope to examine the large bowel (or lower intestine) we call it a colonoscopy. These investigations would typically look for signs of:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
- Colon polyps and tumours
- Diverticular disease and diverticulitis
Learn more about preparing for this procedure here: How do I prepare for a colonoscopy?
During and after
We may offer you gas and air or a strong sedative to help you feel more comfortable during the endoscopy.
Your doctor will be able to give you the results right away. An exception to this would be when they have to send a tissue sample (a biopsy) for lab analysis. Later we will discuss an individually tailored treatment plan to suit your specific situation.
If you have had a sedative, you will need to arrange for a ride home. And you will need someone to stay with you for 24 hours afterwards.
Watch our animated video to learn more about endoscopy:
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How much it costs
As a fee-assured provider, Digestive Health UK works with all major insurance companies as well as smaller insurers.
Patients who do not have health insurance are welcome to visit us in our central London clinic as self-pay patients. Endoscopies and consultations with our private gastroenterologist cost the following:
- New gastroenterology consultation: £275
- Follow-up gastroenterology consultation: £225
- Second-opinion gastroenterology consultation: £350
- Our diagnostic private gastroscopy in London costs approximately £1,450
- Our private colonoscopy in London costs approximately £1,925
- A combined gastroscopy/colonoscopy is approximately £2,300.
Book an appointment
A private endoscopy procedure is just one of the many services offered by Digestive Health UK.
We believe in making your healthcare as simple as possible. We make it our mission to answer any questions and concerns about going private for an endoscopy clearly and concisely.
Call us to talk to an adviser about booking an appointment. Or if you would like more information, let us know on the form when you contact us.
